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Page last updated at 16:01 GMT, Wednesday, 18 March 2009

British trio to fight in Belfast

Frankie Gavin, James DeGale and Billy Joe Saunders
Gavin, DeGale and Saunders (r) all return to the ring in May

James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders will make their second professional appearances in Belfast.

The trio, who will be on the undercard of Martin Rogan's Commonwealth heavyweight title defence on 8 or 9 May, all won earlier this month.

Olympic champion DeGale was taken the distance by Vepkhia Tchilaia and was booed by sections of the crowd.

But Gavin stopped George Kadaria in four rounds and Saunders secured a second-round win over Attila Molnar.

Having won a gold medal in Beijing last summer, DeGale will be hoping to fight his way back into the public's affections.

I'm confident that in the next 18 months they are going to have titles under their belts

Frank Warren

"I believe in all three of these guys, I think they are tremendous," said promoter Frank Warren.

"I'm confident that in the next 18 months they are going to have titles under their belts, maybe not world titles but certainly at a stage where they are going to have titles around their waists.

"They all have the pedigree to do that and they have already beaten the best in the world (at amateur level).

606: DEBATE

"If they go to Northern Ireland and do the business they will leave with the crowd cheering."

An announcement on opponents for the event is expected next week, with confirmation of the date coming as soon as Thursday.



see also
DeGale rattled by crowd boos
01 Mar 09 |  Boxing
From cheers to jeers for DeGale
01 Mar 09 |  Boxing
Gavin cannot wait for pro debut
25 Feb 09 |  Boxing
Saunders relishing pro debut
14 Jan 09 |  Boxing
DeGale excited by pro challenge
02 Dec 08 |  Boxing
Difficult decision for DeGale
12 Sep 08 |  England


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